NFL uncertain of release date for 2014 schedule

The Tribune's Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs discuss the reasons for the restructuring of Jay Cutler's contract.

The Tribune's Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs discuss the reasons for the restructuring of Jay Cutler's contract.

Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter

ORLANDO, Fla. — With the draft pushed back to the second week in May, the biggest news for the NFL in April should be the release of the 2014 schedule, but Howard Katz, the senior vice president in charge of the process, said it’s too early to target a completion date.

“We’re not far enough along in the process,” Katz said from the owners meeting. “We always try to shoot for the third week or so of April. Whether we can get there or not, I don’t know.”

There are so many factors in building the league’s 512-game schedule — including stadium conflicts, climate issues and off weeks — that thousands and thousands of schedules are produced until the league finalizes one. Katz said the NFL will not play a weeknight prime time game at the 49ers’ new stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., this season until “they figure out the traffic flow” in the area. So, go ahead and rule out the Bears for a Thursday or Monday night game when they play there this year.

One scheduling quirk that relates to the Bears is they have not played the Lions on Thanksgiving since 1999, their longest stretch without a game against their division rivals on the holiday ever.

“You think it would happen more frequently, but it is not by design,” Katz said. “It’s just happenstance.”

It will not happen this year as the Lions are due to be on CBS for Thanksgiving, meaning they will host an AFC team, either the Bills or Dolphins.

Expanded playoffs: Increasing the postseason field from 12 teams to 14 likely won’t occur in time for the 2014 season, but the possibility for 2015 is gaining momentum.

Owners aren’t expected to vote on postseason expansion at these meetings, but they heard a proposal on it Monday. Given the Competition Committee’s support for such a change, there’s a growing expectation that it’s not far off.

“I’m in favor of expanded playoffs, provided it doesn’t weaken division play in any form or fashion,” Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “The relationships that we have with teams in Baltimore and Cincinnati and Cleveland are important, and I don’t think that should be lessened.”

Scheduling for any additional postseason games seems a sticking point. For example, playing a Monday night playoff game could be TV ratings gold, but forcing the winner to play the next round on a short week would be problematic.

“It’s going to be good for the game,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s good for players, good for fans. I don’t know about the Monday night game. It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out.”